So said Eliphaz, Job’s first “comforter.” Although this “friend?” had some profound things to say, He lacked a certain empathy for Job that may have had a more comforting effect.

When people are in distress, they often don’t need a lecture. They need your love and understanding. When Jesus tells us to love others as we love ourselves, we can say to ourselves, “I want to feel what you feel.” That’s more healing than a condescending lecture.

PRAYER: Father, You know all things. Give us a Godly empathy, such as the Good Samaritan had for the man at the side of the road, all beaten and in despair. Let Your love flow through us.

READING: Job 5-9

After God had allowed Satan to afflict Job, the man began a period of suffering so great, his friends couldn’t even speak to him for the seven days after they observed him in his pain. He wasn’t being treated with morphine or dilaudid or some other suitable pain reliever. He settled into a great discouragement when he considered how good things had been.

He probably said, “Why me?”

Those suffering affliction need comfort and prayer, not scolding.

PRAYER: Father, help us to be lovingly sensitive to those who suffer. Let Your love flow through us. Let Your healing raise them up as we pray in the name of Jesus.

READING: Job 1-4

God had positioned Mordecai and Esther in prominent and influential places in the kingdom of Xerxes so that they could step forward and defend the Jews against the plot of Haman. It was effective.

There is always a resistance to what God wants to do. It’s one of our enemy’s devices. Yet, God always strategically places his agents of deliverance where they can reveal His defensive plan to provide protection for His people.

God always has a protection plan for your life. He’s greater than your enemy.

PRAYER: Lord, to whom do we cling to besides You? You are our only, yet capable defense against every plot of our enemy. As we pray and trust, let us behold Your plan of redemption for each of us. (Lord, I believe you have a plan to defend me from my cancer)

READING: Esther 8-10

Haman sought advancement with King Xerxes, Esther’s husband, but used his favor with the King to annihilate the Jews. God used Esther, a Jew herself, to expose Haman’s evil plot and halt his ambitious plan. The death he planned for his enemy became the fate his own ambition created for himself. He died and his Godly rival was promoted.

Carnal ambition can bring about your demise when employed against God’s eternal purposes.

PRAYER: Father, we repent of our carnal, self-serving ambitions. We trust You alone for our place in this life.

• Please pray for Ronnie Widington this morning who is at Newnan Piedmont hospital with possible gall bladder infection.

READING: Esther 3-7

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Esther was an orphan. In spite of her seemingly disadvantaged beginnings in life, God elevated her to the highest position a woman could attain at her time of history. She had no control of her destiny initially, but gave God control of her decisions through fasting and prayer when her life got interesting.

God wants to intervene in our lives. Regardless of the plate of food life deals us, we can employ trusting methods such as prayer and fasting to get in line with His eternal purposes for our lives.

Don’t look behind with spite, look ahead with hope.

PRAYER: Father, usher us through life with faith and hope. We trust that we can arise from any circumstance of frustration and achieve a victorious life through the miracles You will provide.

READING: Esther 1,2

God was particular about who worshipped with the Jews. He was also particular about who they married. They were to avoid marriages to women of ungodly nations. One suspect alliance was between Sanballat’s daughter and the grandson of the High Priest. Sanballot, of course, had provided some of the primary resistance to the rebuilding and restoration of God’s ways to the nation.

Paul said, “Don’t be unequally yoked with unbelievers.” It’s a tragic thing to see marriages fail because of spiritual contention. It’s just plain tragic when any marriage fails.

PRAYER: Father, we desire to live lives that please You. We pray for marriages that are in trouble. Heal the breach. Restore families. Bring the unbelievers to salvation in Christ Jesus.

READING: Neh. 12,13

During the time of the rebuilding, there was a revival of attention to the ministry functions in God’s House. Each priestly family would take their place in a schedule to make sure the offerings were being faithful.

Paul says, “Don’t forsake the gathering of yourselves together as the manner of some is, but so much the more as you see the day approaching.” Faithfulness to God’s house is vital.

PRAYER: Father, thank You for Your church. We will take our place in faithfully attending and supporting it.

READING: Neh. 8-11

Nehemiah’s primary enemy, Tobiah,  sent many accusatory letters to him and tried in many ways to discourage the rebuilding project. None of it worked because Nehemiah had the spiritual discernment to understand the warfare mounted against him.

Satan is the great accuser of Christians. If you feel downcast and discouraged, it’s the work of your enemy. If you feel uplifted and encouraged, it’s the work of God’s Holy Spirit.

PRAYER: Father in Heaven, lift us up above the flack of the enemy. Help us to immediately discern the enemy’s ploys and cast them out by the power of Your Spirit.

READING: Neh. 6,7

As Jerusalem’s wall was rebuilt, a section at a time, Sanballot and Tobiah became incensed. They were totally against any progress the Jews made. They ridiculed the Jews and predicted doom, but God’s people persisted.  For twelve years, Nehemiah and the Jews kept at the task of rebuilding what had been torn down.

God’s saints rejoice when progress is made in His Kingdom. The devil and his followers hate it. Prayerfully keep your eyes on the task.

PRAYER: Father, we are so grateful to be a part of building Your Kingdom. Let us never be deterred from our prayer, praise, and progress. We look for great things to happen in this new year.

READING: Neh. 3-5

Nehemiah was grieving greatly about the condition of his homeland to such an extent that his boss, King Artaxerxes expressed concern.  He prayed to God, personally accepting responsibility for this calamity and positioning himself for action. He boldly asked for permission to temporarily vacate his duties as cupbearer to the king to go himself and lead the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s wall.

He didn’t just lament from afar … he became personally involved, stepped up and did something about.

Granted, prayer is the first step, but then faith-filled action needs to follow.

PRAYER: Father in Heaven, hear our prayer, and then put into our minds a plan of action whereby we can personally do our part to fulfill Your Kingdom here on earth.

READING: Neh. 1,2